South Texas Underclass Games: Top Prospects (Part 1)
September 6, 2018
COLLEGE STATION, TX - Some of the top underclass talent from South Texas converged on the campus of Texas A&M for the PBR Underclass Games. This week, we shared our analysis of each player based off of positions. To round out our coverage, here is the first-of-three installments of the Top Prospects with twelve of the top players from the South Texas Underclass Games.
TOP PROSPECTS
 |
MJ RODRIGUEZ1B / C / VETERANS MEMORIAL, TX / 2020A strong, sturdy 5-foot-11, 225-pound frame, there are few 2020 sluggers with Rodriguez’s tools. The right-handed hitter starts in an athletic, slightly-open stance with some wiggle in his hands. In conjunction with a small leg lift and a low-to-high load, Rodriguez showed loose wrists, a compact, lifting swing with uncommon force among rising juniors (105 mph exit velocity), hitting multiple batting practice balls off of and over the left field wall. His bat lags well through the zone, tremendous feel for his barrel, with a great understanding for the rhythm in his swing, and incredibly strong at the point of attack. Behind the plate, he showed a short, quick arm stroke with a 76 mph top velocity from the crouch, posting pop times of 2.04-2.15. At first base, he has good overall feel for the position, with soft hands, rhythm in his footwork, and solid fundamentals. For college coaches looking for a thumper in the middle of their lineup, there are few 2020 players with Rodriguez’s power potential.
|
 |
PEYTON HAVARDRHP / 3B / BRIDGE CITY, TX / 2020A sturdy, 5-foot-11, 220-pound frame. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher repeats an easy, athletic delivery with a quick arm swing from a high ¾ slot. Coming down the slope, he opens his hips with thunder, while transferring his sturdy frame fundamentally compact. His fastball hovered around 86-90 mph, even touching 91 mph, with good life in the zone. His 11-5 curveball sat at 72-73 mph, and showed hard, downward bite, leading to a strikeout. He also threw a 76 mph slider and a deceptive 80 mph changeup as part of his arsenal. In the batter’s box, the right-handed hitter starts in a tall, athletic stance with his hands parallel to his center. In rhythm with a slight leg lift, he loads his hands straight back with a subtle wrap before showcasing a swing with natural lift. He creates plenty of separation for his barrel within the zone, working his hands tight to his midline, displaying easy power due to flexible wrists. During batting practice, he sent a ball flying off the left field wall with little effort. On the infield, Havard has the capability of throwing the baseball with a loose arm and from diverse angles, with plenty of juice (topped out at 89 mph). Unique to his frame, he showed solid lateral agility with soft hands. Havard’s future is likely on the mound, and with two more years of high school in front of him, there is still room to grow and tools to work with.
|
 |
LOGAN HAMMOF / RHP / BRIDGE CITY, TX / 2020Very strong, 6-foot, 200-pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts in tall, athletic stance as he rocks his hands in sync with his lower half. A big leg kick works in tandem with a subtle load of the hands before he explodes over his front side, showcasing serious power and an easy swing designed for launch. Hamm keeps his head on the centerline, has good lag through the zone, soft elbows, is quietly compact, and has awareness for the barrel. In the outfield, Hamm plays through the baseball with confidence and fluidity, while throwing low liners with plenty of velocity (91 mph). Quick, forceful arm action from a high ¾ slot produces plenty of juice from the outfield, with an advanced crow-hop and finish. On the mound, Hamm works with a simple, repeatable, drop-and-drive and delivery, where his loose-quick arm stroke translates from the outfield and onto the bump. He hides the ball well and finishes from a high ¾ window, throwing all of his pitches from a similar slot. His fastball ranged from 85-90 mph, with a lot of strikes at the bottom of the zone. His 11/5 curveball sat at 73-74 mph, with good snap and two-plane movement. Hamm’s stock rose tremendously this summer, and his tools are to be coveted.
|